Monopoly Champ Had Been Laid Off from Buffalo Law Firm

Richard Marinaccio was laid of in January from the Buffalo law firm Hodgson Russ, but he didn’t let the setback get him down.

Within a couple months, Marinaccio, 26, had a new job as assistant counsel at medical-claims administration company Meritain Health. And a month after that, he won the Monopoly national championship in Washington, D.C., and collected $20,580—the total funds available in Monopoly.

Above the Law reported on Marinaccio’s job loss and declared him lawyer of the day.

Marinaccio told the Buffalo News that he went in to the tournament with low expectations. “I came here never having played the game with anybody but my family,” he said. “I was just looking to have a good experience.”

Earlier reports said Marinaccio would use his winnings to pay off student loans. But he told the Buffalo News he would use the money to pay for a honeymoon after he marries lawyer Asma Ahmed, or to put a down payment on their first home.